Fire-escape



(N04 Model.)

s. 13.'.W00DBURY-- 4 f PIRE ESCAPE. No. 282,478. Patente-Maly 31, m83.

. USB.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

sE'rH D. wooDBUnY, or LYNN, MAssAcnUsETTs- Flea-ESCAPE.

- SPECIFICATION forming par; of Letters Patent No. 282,@78, dateagiuly31,1883.

Application filed February 17, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: Y Be it known that I, SETH DODGE WOOD BURY,of- Lynn, in the county of Essex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts,`have iiivented certain new and 4useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes, ofwhich the following, taken age, to occupy little space wh'ennot in use.

The invention consists in certain details of construction, y all ofwhich are hereinafter more fully described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents my improvedfire-escape attached to the sill of an ordinary window and extendingdownward and outward, as it appearswhile in Fig. 2 shows a cross-sectionof the-same made on dotted line x w inFig. I. Fig. 3 is a section thesame as Fig. 2,l but illustrates the position of the .stretcher whenready for folding.

The ribbon A is composed of canvas or a similar flexible material, andis sufficiently long to reach from the window ofthe building to thepoint of safety. It is provided on either side with ropes B B, to whichthe edges of the canvas are firmly` secured. Said ropes have theirbottom ends secured to the rod C, from which extends a short rope, D,lthatserves as a means for securing that end of the escape. The oppositeends of the ropes B B, extending i over the window-sill, make fastto asuitable staple in the iioor of the room, as represented in Fig. l. Atdifferent points along this ribbon A'are placed the stretchers forkeeping the ribbon4 in position while in use.

stretchers are represented more fully in Fig. 2, by reference to whichit will be seen that the `parts 2 2 areconnected together by a pin orrivet, 5, in such manner as to permit of being opened, as in Fig. 2, orclosed, as in Fig. 3. `Said parts 2 2, when opened as in Fig. 2, arefirmly locked and held in position by means of the brace-bars 3 3.J Saidbars 3 3 each `have one end vpivoted to one of the'parts 2, and isfurther connected with the other part 2 byv means of a suitable pin, 6,which pin 6 is made fast in the part 2 and permitted to operate in asuitable slotin the brace 3, so as to permit the parts 2 2 to be closed,as ,in Fig. 3. The springs 4 4 operate against the bars 3 3in such`manner as to keep the pins 6 6 pressed into a I notch in the barl whilethe stretcher is open,

and thus prevent the same from closing together again until the springsare released or reversed. The stretchers composed of said parts areplaced at different points along the canvas ribbon A, and are firmlysecured to the ropes B B, as shown. hold the canvas spread, whileaperson, taking hold of the rope E with his hands and allowing the bodyto rest on the canvas, mayveasily slide downward `to the point ofsafety.

When not in use the stretchers areto be closed, as in Fig. 3, and thewhole `may be These stretchers, when opened,

rolled up and kept in a suitable casing or box under the window intheroom from which the escape is to be made.

It will be obvious that the bottom end of the escape should be carriedoutward, so'as to give the greatest possible slant to the canvas, asthis causes or allows the body of the descend` ing person to press moreheavily on the canv as, and thereby greatlyincreases the utility of theinvention.

What I claim, and desire by Letters Patent to secure, isy y y Afire-escape composed, essentially, of a ribbon, A, provided withsuitable stayropes, .B B, and adapted to extend from the window of abuilding to some point of safety below, stretching` devices,substantially as described, for giving lateral tension tothe ribbon, andan independent lowering-rope, substantially as set forth. y I

Witness my hand this 12th day of February, A. D. 1383, in presence oftwo witnesses.

` SETH DODGE WOODBURY. Witnesses:

SEYMOUR RUTH, C. B. TUTTLE.

